Robust slide adjustable wrench

Abstract

An adjustable wrench includes: a head having a first fixed jaw; a handle extending away from the head and having a longitudinal axis; a second jaw selectively positionable with respect the first jaw; an adjustment mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, an actuator, and a gear train operatively coupling the shaft to the second jaw; the shaft having an external spiral groove and disposed at least partially in the handle; the actuator slidable relative to the handle and engaging the groove; first and second flanges spaced from one another; and a retainer disposed between the flanges and engaging the shaft so as to limit movement of the shaft parallel to the handle longitudinal axis in two directions via abutment with the first and second flanges. Such a wrench may have a proof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 revision.

1 . An adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw;    a handle extending away from said head and having a longitudinal axis;    a second jaw selectively positionable with respect said first jaw;    an adjustment mechanism controlling the positioning of said second jaw and comprising a rotatable shaft, an actuator, and a gear train operatively coupling said shaft to said second jaw;    said shaft having an external spiral groove and disposed at least partially in said handle and generally parallel to said handle longitudinal axis;    said actuator slidable relative to said handle and engaging said groove;    first and second flanges spaced from one another; and    a retainer disposed between said flanges and engaging said shaft so as to limit movement of said shaft parallel to said handle longitudinal axis in two directions via abutment with said first and second flanges.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said first and second flanges are disposed between said spiral groove and said gear train.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said gear train comprises a rotatable worm gear operatively disposed between said shaft and said second jaw.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 3  further comprising a biasing member biasing said worm gear toward said shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 4  wherein said biasing member comprises a discrete spring.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 3  further comprising a retaining cap disposed so as to constrain axial movement of said worm gear.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said first jaw extends in a first direction generally opposite said handle; wherein said head further comprises a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from said first jaw; further comprising a recess defined between said sidewalls; wherein said gear train comprises a worm gear disposed substantially within said recess and having a rotational axis; said recess having a cross-sectional dimension D measured in a direction Z that is both normal to said rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction; wherein said sidewalls both have a thickness in direction Z of about 25% D or more.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  further comprising a debris shield associated with said shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 8  wherein said debris shield circumferentially surrounds said shaft.  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 9  wherein said debris shield includes a spiral slot, said spiral slot and said spiral groove having different pitches, wherein said actuator engages said spiral groove and said spiral slot.  
   
   
       11 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said shaft is substantially fixed against longitudinal movement via said first flange, said second flange, and said retainer.  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said wrench has a proof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 revision, when tested according to the method set forth in said ASME standard.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said spiral groove traces a helix.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1:   wherein said spiral groove traces a helix;    wherein said first and second flanges are disposed between said spiral groove and said gear train; wherein said shaft is substantially fixed against longitudinal movement via said first flange, said second flange, and said retainer;    wherein said gear train comprises a rotatable worm gear operatively disposed between said shaft and said second jaw.    wherein said first jaw extends in a first direction generally opposite said handle; wherein said head further comprises a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from said first jaw; further comprising a recess defined between said sidewalls; wherein said gear train comprises a worm gear disposed substantially within said recess and having a rotational axis; said recess having a cross-sectional dimension D measured in a direction Z that is both normal to said rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction; wherein said sidewalls both have a thickness in direction Z of about 25% D or more;    further comprising a debris shield circumferentially surrounding said shaft; said debris shield including a spiral slot, said spiral slot and said spiral groove having different pitches, wherein said actuator engages said spiral groove and said spiral slot; and    wherein said wrench has a proof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 revision, when tested according to the method set forth in said ASME standard.    
   
   
       15 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 14  further comprising a spring biasing said worm gear toward said shaft.  
   
   
       16 . An adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw extending in a first direction, a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from said first jaw, and a recess defined between said sidewalls;    a handle extending away from said head in a second direction generally opposite said first direction and having a longitudinal axis;    a second jaw selectively positionable with respect said first jaw;    an adjustment mechanism controlling the positioning of said second jaw and comprising a shaft, an actuator, and a gear train operatively coupling said shaft to said second jaw;    said shaft disposed at least partially in said handle and having an external spiral groove;    said actuator slidable along said handle and engaging said groove;    wherein said gear train comprises a worm gear rotatable about a rotational axis and disposed in said head recess;    wherein said recess has a cross-sectional dimension D measured in a direction Z that is both normal to said rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction;    wherein said sidewalls both have a thickness in direction Z of about 25% D or more.    
   
   
       17 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 16  further comprising a biasing member biasing said worm gear toward said shaft.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 16  further comprising a retaining cap mated to said head and disposed so as to constrain movement of said worm gear along said rotational axis.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 16  further comprising a debris shield disposed about said shaft, said debris shield having a spiral slot, said spiral slot and said helical groove having different pitches, wherein said actuator engages said spiral groove and said spiral slot.  
   
   
       20 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 first and second flanges spaced from one another;    a retainer clip disposed between said flanges and engaging said shaft so as to limit movement of said shaft parallel to said handle longitudinal axis in two directions via abutment with said first and second flanges.    
   
   
       21 . An adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw;    a handle extending away from said head and having a longitudinal axis;    a second jaw selectively positionable with respect said first jaw;    means for adjusting the position of said second jaw relative to said first jaw; 
 said means comprising a shaft disposed at least partially in said handle and having an external spiral groove; wherein said shaft operatively couples to said second jaw via said a gear train so as to control movement thereof;  
   means for limiting longitudinal movement of said shaft parallel to said axis in two directions.    
   
   
       22 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 21  wherein longitudinal movement limiting means substantially fixes said shaft against movement parallel to said axis.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 21  wherein said first jaw extends in a first direction generally opposite said handle; wherein said head further comprises a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from said first jaw; further comprising a recess defined between said sidewalls; wherein said adjusting means comprises a worm gear disposed substantially within said recess and having a rotational axis; said recess having a cross-sectional dimension D measured in a direction Z that is both normal to said rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction; wherein said sidewalls both have a thickness in direction Z of about 25% D or more.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 21  further comprising a debris shield circumferentially surrounding said shaft; said debris shield including a spiral slot, said spiral slot and said spiral groove having different pitches; and wherein said adjusting means comprises an actuator engaging said spiral groove and said spiral slot.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 21  wherein said wrench has a proof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 revision, when tested according to the method set forth in said ASME standard.  
   
   
       26 . A method of assembling an adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 providing an adjustable wrench body, said body comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw;  
 a handle coupled to said head and extending away therefrom along a first longitudinal axis;  
 first and second flanges spaced from one another;  
   joining a shaft to said handle, said shaft having an external spiral groove;    engaging said spiral groove with an actuator that is slidable relative to said handle generally parallel to said longitudinal axis;    engaging said shaft with a retainer so as to limit movement of said shaft parallel to said axis in two directions via abutment with said first and second flanges;    wherein said shaft operatively couples to a second moveable jaw via said gear train so as to control movement thereof.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said engaging said spiral groove with said actuator prior to said engaging said shaft with said retainer.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising circumferentially surrounding said shaft with a debris shield having a spiral slot, wherein said spiral slot and said spiral groove have different pitches,  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said engaging said spiral groove with said actuator comprises engaging said spiral groove and said spiral slot with said actuator.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising sliding said actuator and thereby causing said second jaw to move relative to said first jaw.  
   
   
       31 . A method of assembling an adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 providing an adjustable wrench body, said body comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw extending in a first direction, a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from said first jaw, and a recess defined between said sidewalls;  
 a handle coupled to said head and extending away therefrom along a first longitudinal axis;  
   rotatably joining a shaft to said handle, said shaft having an external spiral groove;    operatively coupling a second moveable jaw to said shaft via a gear train so as to control movement of said second jaw; said gear train comprising a worm gear disposed substantially in said head recess and rotatable about a rotation axis;    wherein said recess has a cross-sectional dimension D measured in a direction Z that is both normal to said rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction;    wherein said sidewalls both have a thickness in direction Z of about 25% D or more.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising applying torque with said wrench to a level above that set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 version, without deforming said wrench.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising rotating said shaft and thereby causing said second jaw to move relative to said first jaw.  
   
   
       34 . An adjustable wrench, comprising: 
 a head having a first fixed jaw;    a handle extending away from said head and having a longitudinal axis;    a second jaw selectively positionable with respect said first jaw;    an adjustment mechanism controlling the positioning of said second jaw and comprising a rotatable shaft, an actuator, and a gear train operatively coupling said shaft to said second jaw;    said shaft having an external spiral groove and disposed at least partially in said handle and generally parallel to said handle longitudinal axis;    said actuator slidable relative to said handle and engaging said groove;    first and second flanges spaced from one another and substantially circumferentially surrounding said shaft; and    a retainer disposed between said flanges and engaging said shaft so as to limit movement of said shaft parallel to said handle longitudinal axis in two directions via abutment with said first and second flanges.    
   
   
       35 . The adjustable wrench of  claim 1  wherein said first and second flanges are spaced from one another along said longitudinal axis.